Log separation system

ABSTRACT

A pulp mill log separation system which receives logs from trucks which are longer than the mill equipment will accept, separates the logs and cuts the logs into lengths that can be accepted by the pulp mill equipment.

[ Aug. 12, 1975 United States Patent 191 Savage LOG SEPARATION SYSTEM [76] Inventor:

3 141 482 3,17 ,728 3 19 L ds 1. Dmald Savage 2883 Cobb 3 772 083 12/192 Marietta, Ga. 30060 July 27, 1973 Primary Examiner-Donald R. Schran [22] Filed:

Appl. No.1 383,116 Attorney, Agent, or FirmB. J. Powell St m mm M e.m .W e C68 mmm m m C w n T a c mms A yr m Si n S 0mm B U t A mm aa P m eh km h l ww ls flk P mmw m 1 m .fl om Afiw 52 9 fl% 4n52 2/ 3 00 8 29 322 mi n n 3 8, M 3 u 3 y m4 8 "B n "3 n W mh C n .r U "a e n S L f. C l0 d 5 d i U .mF m Uod 5 55 l.

lengths that can be accepted by the pulp mill equipment.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,925,498 9/1933 Plante...... 221/298 X 2 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTED AUG 1 2191s SHEET PATENTED Ausi 2191s SHEET m ms: m m tuhwt k Q U *PATkNTEU Am; 1 21975 6 4 4% Q LY PATENTED AUG 1 2 I975 REU LOG SEPARATION SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION at this time that most pulp mills were constructed and thus the equipment installed was designed to accept the short logs delivered to the mill. More recently, however, field equipment has become available to handle and transport long logs which were the full length of the trees. Because of the economics realized in handling the long logs,'the present trend is to deliver the logs to the mill in tree length. r

This practice has created problems at the receiving station of the pulp mill inasmuch as the long logs must be unloaded from the trucks transporting same to the mill and then cut into the short lengths required by the mill equipment. Usually, an extremely large fork-lift type machine is used to unload the trucks and gang saws used to cut the long logs into shorter lengths. Such techniques are both time consuming, expensive and dangerous for operating personnel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other problems and disadvantages associated with the prior art are overcome by the invention disclosed herein by providing a mechanism which separates the long logs and then cuts each log into shorter lengths for acceptance by the mill equipment which is simple and inexpensive to construct and maintain, which is sufficiently fast to supply the mill and which requires a minimum of support equipment and personnel to operate.

I The apparatus of the invention comprises generally a separator unit which receives the long logs from the trucks transporting same and separates the logs. A water flume system carries the logs from the separator unit to a cut-to-length mechanism which automatically cuts the long logs into shorter lengths for acceptance by the pulp mill equipment.

The separator unit includes a gate system which sepa- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1A and 1B are plan views of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing one of the separation gates;

, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

F IG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1A; a

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 5 5 in FIG. 1B;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 18;

FIGS. 7-9 illustrate the operation of the separation gates;

' FIG. 10 is a fluid schematic of the invention;

FIG. 11 is an electrical schematic of the control circuit of the invention; and,

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating the diameter sensing mechanism.

These figures and the following detailed description disclose specific embodiments of the invention, however, it is to be understood that the inventive concept is not limited thereto since it may be embodied in other forms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS Referring to the figures, it will be seen that the invention includes generally a plurality of separator units 10 interconnected by a water flume system 11 and a cutto-length unit 12 downstream of the separator units 10 and interconnected with the water flume system 11.

Generally, it will be seen that log transporting vehicles V, here shownas trucks, will be moved along an access road AR and dump the logs L into the separator unit 10. The logs are held within the separator unit 10 and are individually released into the water flume system 11 so that the logs L are moved along the water flume system toward the cut-to-length unit 12 whereupon the unit 12 cuts the logs L into the shorter lengths required to feed a pulp mill system (not shown).

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that each of the separator units 10 includes generally a catch bin 14 which receives the logs L as they are dumped or otherwise unloaded from the vehicles V so that the logs are moved under gravity to the vicinity of the water flume system 11. Separator gate assemblies 15 are provided at the water flume system 11 for inditrough 16 which extends through each of the separator units 10 to interconnect them and extends under the cut-to-length unit 12 to supply the logs from the separator units 10 to the cut-to-length unit 12. An appropriate pumping unit 18 is supplied at that end of the trough 16 most remote from the cut-to-length unit 12 for supllying water to the trough 16 so that the water flow through the trough 16 is from the separator units 10 toward the cut-to-length unit 12.

The catch bin 14 includes an inclined floor 20 that extends downward from the access road AR toward the trough 16 of the water flume system 11 and is provided at opposite ends thereof with abuttments 21. A longitudinally extending opening 22 is provided at the lowermost point of the floor 20 and vertically positioned over the trough 16 so that logs L rolling down the inclined floor 20 will drop into the trough 16 through the opening 22. It should be pointed out that the catch bins 14 illustrated have an inclined floor 20 on opposite sides of the trough 16 so that logs can be dumped onto the floor 20 from the log transporting vehicles V from an access road on opposite sides thereof. Thus, logs L dumped into the catch bin 14 from either side can roll down the floor 20 and pass through the opening 22 and into the trough 16. i

To selectively provide for the individual separation of the logs L on the floors 20 in separator unit 10, the separator gate assemblies are provided. Each separator gate assembly 15 includes a first gate subassembly 24 and a second gate subassembly 25 with subassemblies 24 and 25 located on opposite sides of the opening 22 at the intersection of the inclined floor with opening 22 and opposed to each other. The first and second gate subassemblies 24 and 25 are substantially mirror images of each other. Therefore, only first gate subassembly 24 will be described in detail, it being understood that the components of the second gate subassembly 25 will be substantially mirror images of those of gate subassembly 24 with like numbers applied thereto.

First gate subassembly 24 includes a short arm section 26 and a long arm section 28 as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The short and long arm sections 26 and 28 cooperate with each other to individually separate the logs within the catch bin 14 and to drop these individually separated logs L into the water flowing through the trough 16. The short arm section 26 comprises a plurality of short arms 29 pivoted on a common support shaft 30 so that the curved operating end 31 of each of the short arms 29 projects across and under the opening 22 above the trough 16. The arms 29 are ganged together and the pivotal position of the arms 29 is provided through a fluid cylinder 32 drivingly connected to the arms 29 through a connector 34. It will be seen that the support shaft 30, fluid cylinder 32 and connector 34 are carried in a recess 35 of side wall 36 of trough 16. Thus, the short arms 29 operate to be selectively pivoted to project into and out of the opening 22 so that logs L at opening 22 may be selectively released to fall between the operating ends 31 of short arms 29 of the opposed gate subassemblies 24 and 25.

The long arm section 28 includes a plurality of long arms 40 interposed between the short arms 29. The arms 40 are also pivotally mounted on the support shaft 30 but for pivotal movement independently of the short arms 29. Each of the long arms 40 is provided with a curved operating end 41 which is selectively projected into and out of the trough 16 under opening 22. The long arms 40 are ganged together through a common drive shaft 42 at that end opposite the curved operating end 41 with a fluid cylinder 44 operatively connected to the drive shaft 42 to selectively position the long arms 40 within the trough 16 under the opening 22. It will also be noted that the fluid cylinder 44 is also mounted within the recess 35 and that the recess 35 is appropriately configured to allow the long arms 40 to be retracted thereinto and out of the trough 16. It will also be noted that the depth of trough 16 is sufficient to allow logs L being moved through the trough while floating in the water to clear the arms 40. A cover 45 is provided in floor 20 shown in FIG. 3 but removed in FIG. 2 for sake of clarity.

To separate the logs within bin 14, it will be seen that the logs L are generally supported by the short arm section 26 of the subassemblies 24 and 25. When it is desirable to release one log from the short arm sections 26 onto the long arm sections 28, the long arms 40 are pivoted up to approximately the same plane as the short arms 29 and the short arms 29 are retracted sufficiently to have an opening 01 therebetween sufficiently large to allow one log L to pass therethrough. With the short arms 29 in this position, the long arms 40 are retracted so that the single log L is allowed to pass between the short arms 29. When the long arms 40 reach a predetermined position below the plane of the short arms 29, the short arms 29 are forced to project back into the trough 16 so that the remaining logs above the released log L carried by the long arms 40 will be securely held by the short arms 29 thus lifting the remaining logs from that log carried by the long arms 40. The long arms 40 can then be pivoted so as to be retracted from the trough 16 to allow the log carried thereby to drop into the water passing through the trough 16 and to be moved away from the separator unit 10 toward the cut-to-length unit 12 as will become more apparent.

Because several separator units 10 are provided which feed the same flume system serially, it will be seen that a trip gate assembly 50 is provided in the trough 16 at the leading and trailing end of each separator unit 10. The trip gate assembly 50 is best illustrated in FIG. 4. Each trip gate assembly 50 includes an open grid gate 57 which projects down into the water passing through the trough 16 and is pivotally mounted from side wall 36 of trough 16 on a generally vertically extending pivot shaft 52. The gate 51 is spring urged by spring 54 toward a position extending generally transversely of the trough 16. The gate 51 is provided with a curved end 55 so that a log L floating down the trough 16 in the water will engage and open gate 51 against the force of spring 54 and actuate a disabling switch T-l on the leading assembly 50 and T2 on the trailing assembly 50 appropriately connected to the control circuit associated with the separator gate assembly 15 of the particular separator unit 10 to prevent logs within the separator unit 10 from being dropped into the trough 16 until both trip gate assemblies 50 at the leading and trailing ends of the separator unit 10 are released to close the disabling switches 56, as will be more fully explained. Thus, as long as a log is within the trough 16 so as to interfere with a log dropped by the particular unit 10, no logs from the separator unit 10 will be dropped onto the logs passing along the trough 16. The controlling of the trip gate assemblies 50 and the separator gate assemblies 24 and 25 will be described in more detail hereinafter.

Referring now to FIGS. 1B, 5 and 6, it will be seen that the cut-to-length unit 12 comprises generally a conveyor which fits within the trough 16 to lift the logs L from the trough 16 and a shear mechanism 61 which receives the logs from the conveyor 60, cuts the logs into the desired shorter lengths and redeposits the cut logs back onto the conveyor 60 for movement either back into the flume system 11 or to a stockpiling stage. The movement of the logs L on the conveyor 60 is synchronized with respect to the shear mechanism 61 as will become more apparent so that the proper lengths will be cut from the logs L.

The conveyor 60 includes an infeed section 62 and a discharge section 64. The infeed section 62 seen in FIG. 6 includes an endless conveyor 65 which has a plurality of driving lugs 66 thereon spaced apart a prescribed distance a which corresponds to the length of the'particular section into which the logs L is to be cut by the shear mechanism 61. The driving lugs 66 are provided with sharpened teeth 68 as best seen in FIG. 5 which engage and support the logs L thereon as will become more apparent. An infeed support pulley along with other support pulleys (not shown) position the conveyor belt 69 so that the entrance to the infeed section 62 of conveyor 60 positions the upper flight 70 of conveyor belt 65 slightly above or at the water level WL of the water in the trough 16 with the lower flight extending down into or passing through the water in trough 16. Thus, it will be seen that as the logs L are moved down the trough 16 under the influence of the water flowing therein, the leading end of the log will L out of the water and onto the conveyor 60 so that the log L will be carried on the teeth 68 as seen in FIG. 6. As the log is finally lifted completely out of the water, it is moved along the conveyor 60 toward the shear mechanism 61.

The shear mechanism 61 includes a primary unit 79 with a support table 80 which rotatably mounts a pair of shear wheels 81 thereon through drive shafts 82 for rotation about spaced apart vertical axes A on opposite sides of the path P along which the infeed section 62 of conveyor 60 moves the logs L. The wheels 81 are directly opposed to each other and tangent at their peripheries at path P. Each wheel 81 includes a plurality of radially extending shear blades 84. The wheels 81 are also geared together through gears 85 so that the blades 84 of opposite wheels 81 directly oppose each other at the point of tangency of path P. One of the drive shafts 82 is driven by an appropriate drive source 86 shown in FIG. 5 which also drives the conveyor 60 to maintain synchronization between the wheels 81 and conveyor 60. The circumferential distance between the blades 84 is equal to the desired shorter lengths into which the logo L are to be sheared. The support table 80 may be provided with rollers 88 as seen in FIG. IE to assist in free movement of logo L through the shear mechanism 61.

The shear mechanism 61 illustrated in FIG. 1B includes a stand-by unit 89 with a support table 90 and shear wheels 91 so that the mechanism 61 can be shifted sidewise on tracks 94 to allow repairs to be made on the primary unit 79 while using the stand-by unit so as not to impede production.

The sheared shorter lengths L of the logo are deposited onto the conveyor belt 100 of the discharge section 64 which delivers the lengths L to the conventional mill flume system or to the conventional stockpiling stage.

Referring now to FIG. 10, it will be seen that the fluid cylinder 32 is connected to the fluid pressure source PS through a solenoid operated three position valve V-l. When the out solenoid SOL-1 of valve V-1 is energized, the cylinder 32 causes its piston rod 33 to retract and move the short arms 29 out of the trough 16 and when the in solenoid SOL-2 of valve V-1 is energized, the cylinder 32 causes its piston rod 33 to extend and move the short arms 29 into the trough 16. When neither of the solenoids are energized, the valve V-l returns to its neutral position to hold the piston rod 33 in position. In like manner, the fluid cylinder 44 is connected to the fluid pressure source PS through another solenoid operated three position valve V-2. When the out solenoid SOL-3 of valve V-l is energized, the cylinder 44 causes its piston rod 43 to extend and pivot the long arms 40 out of trough 16. When the in solenoid SOL-4 is energized, the cylinder 44 causes its piston rod 43 to retract to move the long arms 40 into the trough 16.

The electrical control circuit is seen in FIG. 12 and includes a common hot wire 111 and common ground wire 112 connected to a voltage source V through power switch SW-l. The long arm out control branch 114 is connected between wires 111 and 112. Control branch 14 includes the solenoid SOL-3 connected between wires 111 and 112 in series with the disabling switch T-1 of the leading trip gate assembly 50, with the disabling switch T-2 of the trailing trip gate assembly 50, with a time delay unit D, with the normally closed contacts LSO-1 of the long arm maximum out limit switch LSO and, with normally closed contacts R1-3 of relay R1, contacts R2-3 of relay R2 contacts R3-3 of R3 and contacts R4-3 of relay R4. The solenoid SOL-3 is also connected between wires 111 and 112 in series with normally open contacts Rl-l of relay R1. Branch 114 also includes the coil Rl-C of relay R1 connected between wires 111 and 112 in series with normally closed long arm intermediate out limit switch LS and normally open holding contacts R1-2 of relay R1. Coil Rl-C is also connected between wires 111 and 112 in series with normally open contact LSl-l of long arm maximum in limit switch LSI.

The long arm in control branch 115 includes the solenoid SOL-4 connected between wires 111 and 112 in series with normally open contacts R22 of control relay R2. Branch 115 also includes coil R2C of relay R2 connected between wires 111 and 112 in series with normally open holding contacts R2 1 and normally closed contacts LSI-2 of limit switch LSI. Coil R2C is also connected between wires 111 and 112 in series with normally open contacts LSO-Z of limit switch LSO.

The short arm out control branch 116 includes the solenoid SOL-1 connected in series with normally open contacts R3-2 of control relay R3. Branch 116 also includes coil R3-C of relay R3 connected between wires 111 and 112 in series with normally open contacts LSI-3 of limit switch LSI and normally closed contacts R4-4 of relay R4. Coil R3-C is also connected between wires.1ll and 112 in series with normally closed short arm maximum out limit switch SSO, normally open holding contacts R3-1 of relay R3, and normally closed contacts R44.

The short arm in control branch 118 includes solenoid SOL-2 connected between wires 111 and 112 in series with normally open contacts R4-2 of control relay R4. Diameter control solenoid SOL-5 is also connected across solenoid SOL-4 in parallel therewith as will become more apparent. Branch 118 also includes coil R4-C of relay R4 connected between wires 111 and 112 in series with normally open diameter control switch DS. Coil R4-C is also connected between wires 111 and 112 in series with normally closed short arm maximum in limit switch S8] and normally open holding contacts R4-1 of relay R4.

The diameter sensing unit 120 is best seen in FIG. 12 includes a sensing arm 121 pivoted in side wall 36 of trough 16. A contact wheel 122 is carried in the end of arm 121 and carnming edges 124 are provided to prevent the arm 121 from binding with logs L. A spring 125 constantly forces arm 121 to pivot into trough 16. The arm 121 is connected to the actuator 126 of diameter control switch DS through connector 128. Actuator 126 is arranged so that it is movable counterclockwise from the position shown but not clockwise. Switch DS is carried in a guide 129 and is spring urged toward the right in FIG. 12 and is provided with a ratchet 130. A detent assembly 131 is provided to selectively engage the ratchet 130. The assembly 131 is normally in the operative position shown but solenoid SOL- is connected thereto so that when the solenoid is energized, the detent assembly is moved to an inoperative position.

OPERATION In operation, the log transporting vehicle V has the logs L unloaded therefrom and deposited in bins 14 so that their longitudinal axis is generally parallel to the path Pin trough 16. The logs L roll down the inclined floor until they rest at the separation gate assemblies 15. Normally, the short arms 29 are in their in position and the long arms 40 are in their intermediate position as seen in FIG. 3.

At this point the system operator closes the power switch SW-l to the control circuit 1 10. This causes the solenoid SOL-3 of valve V-l to energize and drive the long arms 40 out since trip gates 51 are closed at this point. When the long arms 40 reach their out position shown in FIG. 7, the out limit switch is transferred to de-energize solenoid SOL-3 and energize solenoid SOL-4 to drive the long arms 40 in by energizing relay R2 to close contacts R2-2. When the long arms 40 reach their in position shown in FIG. 8, the in limit switch LSl is transferred to de-energize solenoid SOL-4 while at the same time energizing solenoids SOL-3 and SOL-1 to drive both the short arms 29 and long arms 40 out.

When the short arms reach their out position so that their ends are spaced apart the distance 0, as seen in FIG. 8, the switch SSO is opened to de-energize solenoid SOL-l. The arms 40 continue to move out allowing the lowermost log L to pass between arms 29 resting on arms 40. The outer periphery of log L moving down on arms 40 engages the arm 121 in diameter sensing Unit 120 and drives it out against spring 125. As long as arm 121 moves out, switch DS is moved in over detent assembly 131 without closing switch DS. After passage of the major dimension of log L past the arm 121, it starts to move in, however, the detent assembly 131 arrests the outward movement of switch DS so that the actuator 126 is moved counterclockwise to close switch DS.

This energizes relay R4 to cause in solenoid SOl-2 to be energized to drive short arms 29 in just above the lowermost log L on arms 40 as seen in FIG. 9 and life the logs L thereabove off of lowermost log L to separate it. Solenoid SOL-5 is also energized with solenoid SOL-2 so that the switch DS is released to open. When the short arms 29 reach the in position shown in FIG. 3, limit switch SS] is opened to de-energize solenoid SOL-2. At about the same time, the arms 40 reach their intermediate position shown in FIG. 3 to open switch LS and de-energize solenoid SCI-3. If no log has activated switches T-1 and T-2 and unit D is not in its time out mode, the solenoid SOL-3 is re-energized to drop the separated log L into trough 16' and the cycles repeated. If the dropped log L or a log from the next up stream unit 10 has not cleared trip gates 51 in sufficient time for the time delay unit D to time out, the next separated log L will be held on arms 40 in the position shown in FIG. 3 until the log in trough l6 clears gates 51.

It should also be pointed out that if the log L being separated is of a sufficiently small diameter, the switch D8 will close prior to switch SSO so that arms 29 will properly separate the small log. The separated logs L then move down the trough 16 through the cut-tolength unit 12 where it is cut into shorter lengths as described above.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein, full use of modifications, substitutions and equivalents may be made without departing from the scope of the invention concept.

I claim:

1. A mechanism for individually separating logs including:

a supply bin having an inclined floor in which the pile of logs is supported and along which the logs are moved under gravity, said floor having a discharge opening at its lower portion; and,

separation gate means for selectively closing said discharge opening and for individually releasing logs from the pile through said opening, said separation gate means comprising:

a first pair of arms positioned on opposite sides of said opening and selectively movable toward and away from each other to a first position blocking said opening and to a second position not blocking said opening so that the logs may individually pass therebetween,

a second pair of arms positioned on opposite sides of said opening below said first pair of arms selectively movable toward and away from each other to a third position blocking said opening to support a log thereon below said first pair of arms and to a fourth position not blocking said opening to release the log,

first drive means for selectively positioning said first pair of arms in said first position and in said second position,

a second drive means for selectively positioning said second pair of arms in said third position and in said fourth position, and

control means operatively connected to said first and said second drive means for actuating said first and second drive means, said control means including sensing means for detecting movement of the major diameter of one of the logs carried by said second pair of arms past a prescribed point and for actuating said first drive means to cause said first pair of arms to be moved from said second position to said first position upon passage of the major diameter of the log carried by said second pair of arms past said prescribed position;

a water flume located under said discharge opening for receiving and floating logs received from said separation gate means and wherein said control means further includes trip gate means constructed and arranged to be operated by a log carried in said water flume under said separation gate means, said trip gate means operatively connected to said second drive means for preventing movement of said second pair of arms from said third position to said fourth position when the log carried by said water flume is located under said separation gate means;

a conveyor operatively associated with said water flume for transporting a log from said water flume, said conveyor including means for locating the log in said flume at a prescribed position on said conveyor; and,

a severing means operatively associated with said conveyor for transversely cutting each log on said conveyor into prescribed shorter equal lengths,

ceiving each separated log from said separating means and moving said separated log to said severing means, said conveying means including a water flume operatively associated with said separating means for receiving said separated log from said separating means and for moving said separated logs along a prescribed path toward said severing means, and a conveyor operatively associated with said severing means and said water flume for transporting each separated log from said water flume to said severing means, said conveyor including 10- cating means for locating each separated log at a prescribed position on said conveyor, the movement of said conveyor synchronized with the movement of said severing means to cause said severing means to cut when said conveyor means reaches a prescribed position, and so that the conveyor moves each separated log through said severing means at a rate to cause said severing means to sever each separated log into shorter prescribed equal lengths. 

1. A mechanism for individually separating logs including: a supply bin having an inclined floor in which the pile of logs is supported and along which the logs are moved under gravity, said floor having a discharge opening at its lower portion; and, separation gate means for selectively closing said discharge opening and for individually releasing logs from the pile through said opening, said separation gate means comprising: a first pair of arms positioned on opposite sides of said opening and selectively movable toward and away from each other to a first position blocking said opening and to a second position not blocking said opening so that the logs may individually pass therebetween, a second pair of arms positioned on opposite sides of said opening below said first pair of arms selectively movable toward and away from each other to a third position blocking said opening to support a log thereon below said first pair of arms and to a fourth position not blocking said opening to release the log, first drive means for selectively positioning said first pair of arms in said first position and in said second position, a second drive means for selectively positioning said second pair of arms in said third position and in said fourth position, and control means operatively connected to said first and said second drive means for actuating said first and second drive means, said control means including sensing means for detecting movement of the major diameter of one of the logs carried by said second pair of arms past a prescribed point and for actuating said first drive means to cause said first pair of arms to be moved from said second position to said first position upon passage of the major diameter of the log carried by said second pair of arms past said prescribed position; a water flume located under said discharge opening for receiving and floating logs received from said separation gate means and wherein said control means further includes trip gate means constructed and arranged to be operated by a log carried in said water flume under said separation gate means, said trip gate means operatively connected to said second drive means for preventing movement of said second pair of arms from said third position to said fourth position when the log carried by said water flume is located under said separation gate means; a conveyor operatively associated with said water flume for transporting a log from said water flume, said conveyor including means for locating the log in said flume at a prescribed position on said conveyor; and, a severing means operatively associated with said conveyor for transversely cutting each log on said conveyor into prescribed shorter equal lengths, said severing means synchronized with said conveyor.
 2. A log handling system for use with a pile of logs including: means for supporting the pile of logs; separating means for individually separating the logs from the pile; severing means for transversely cutting each separated log into prescribed shorter lengths; and conveying means operatively associated with said separating means and said severing means for receiving each separated log from said separating means and moving said separated log to said severing means, said conveying means including a water flume operatively associated with said separating means for receiving said separated log from said separating means and for moving said separated logs along a prescribed path toward said severing means, and a conveyor operatively associated with said severing means and said water flume for transporting each separated log from said water flume to said severing means, said conveyor including locating means for locating each separated log at a prescribed position on said conveyor, the movement of said conveyor synchronized with the movement of said severing means to cause said severing means to cut when said conveyor means reaches a prescribed position, and so that the conveyor moves each separated log through said severing means at a rate to cause said severing means to sever each separated log into shorter prescribed equal lengths. 